Ukraine Rivals Set Early Elections
5-26-7
Ukraine's two most senior political leaders have agreed
to hold early parliamentary elections after a prolonged rift between the
two rivals.
Viktor Yushchenko, the country's president, set a date
of September 30 for the election in consultation on Saturday with Viktor
Yanukovych, Ukraine's prime minister.
In a joint statement, the two leaders agreed "not to
allow interference in the activities of judicial and law-enforcement
organs."
"We will do everything so that this is not repeated, so
that there are no more mistakes, no more emotions," Yanukovych told
reporters.
Troop movement
The election agreement cooled rising tensions between
two very distinct political leaders, which threatened to escalate earlier
on Saturday.
About 3,600 troops loyal to Yushchenko were barred from
reaching the capital Kiev by police before the deal was signed.
The elite forces - charged with "protecting public
order", according to the presidential office - were stopped at checkpoints
around the country under orders from the interior ministry.
"The interior minister has given an order forbidding the
movement of internal troops towards Kiev so that they do not upset public
order," said Kostyantin Stogny, a ministry spokesman.
Some internal force commanders chose to stay in barracks
out of loyalty to the government, an interior ministry spokesman said.
Political crisis
The current political crisis started last month when
Yushchenko issued an order to disband parliament and hold new elections,
drawing opposition from Yanukovych.
Yushchenko on Friday issued an order taking control of
the interior ministry's military branch away from the government, led by
Yanukovych.
Yanukovych's allies described Yushchenko's order as a
"coup attempt".
Vasyl Tsushko, interior minister, called for restraint
and said: "It's necessary to calm down. There won't be any use of force.
We won't storm anything."
Prosecutor fight
The feud escalated on Thursday when a paramilitary unit
from the interior ministry scuffled with members of a presidential
security force outside the Kiev office of Svyatoslav Piskun, the country's
prosecutor general.
The paramilitaries intervened to protect Piskun, who is
pro-Yanukovych, after Yushchenko ordered his dismissal.
Control over interior ministry forces was crucial in the
"Orange" revolution of 2004.
Mass street protests helped bring Yushchenko to the
presidency, overturning a flawed vote initially in Yanukovych's favour.
Yushchenko has sought to lead Ukraine into the EU and
Nato, while Yanukovych wishes to preserve close ties with Moscow.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/ADD2AA84-2D80-4E30-A3CE-FBC090C7472D.htm
Pointing to the instability in the region. Georgia and
the Ukraine.
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